Claudia Maria López is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB). Graduating with a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of California, Santa Cruz, with an emphasis in Feminist Studies and Latin American and Latinx Studies, Claudia is a scholar of displacements and forced migration in Colombia and Southern California, examining the links between time, space, and belonging in the 21st Century.
Born in the Bay Area and the daughter of immigrant parents, Claudia grew up listening to stories of her father’s experience as a Bracero, migrating from Chiapas, Mexico, and her mother’s journey from Colombia to San Francisco. Listening to the adults talk at the table, she was struck by their stories of displacement due to lack of work in Mexico or the Colombian civil war. These early formative experiences inspired her decision to become a researcher, educator, and life-long learner in the fields of migration, citizenship, and critical urban studies. Claudia is a dedicated research mentor, involving students in her projects inside and outside the classroom, and serving as a faculty mentor in university undergraduate research programs and graduate committees. As a 1st generation transfer student from Long Beach City College, and a graduate from the California State University system, Claudia looks forward to continuing her work with a community of students and scholars at CSULB and beyond. When not working, Claudia is also an avid photographer and gardener, and enjoys hiking and exploring the sunny beaches of Southern California. |